Verena Schönauer
author, director, cutter (freelance)
After her studies of classical archaeology, professional training in film post production and photography as well as scholarships stays in England and Moscow, Verena Schönauer began to work as a freelance director, author and film editor in 1993. Since then she has edited and directed more than sixty documentaries for cinema and television, which were amongst others produced and co-produced by BBC, NatGeo, France 2, ARTE and ARD.
Through her experience in commercials, fictional movies and various documentary formats as well as her personal dedication to each and every project, all her films have a very personal signature and have been honored and awarded by many festivals.
The Hollywood Professional Assciation nominated Verena Schönauer for her work at „The Ivory Game“ for „Outstanding Editing“. The documentary from executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio was shortlisted in 2017 for an Oscar for „Best Documentary Feature“. Her latest work as an film editor „Sea Of Shadows“, which was also executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019 and won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition.
filmography director (selection)
2019 Grisons – Where Heaven touches the Earth (in production),90min., SWR Author & Director: Verena Schönauer
2018 Gotthard – Route of Pioniers, 90min., SWR/ARTE, Author, Director, & Editor: Verena Schönauer
Mountainfilm International Filmfestival Graz 2018
2014 Research Station Schneeferner Haus, 6min., Imagefilm, Director: Richard Ladkani, Verena Schönauer
2012 Project Gotthard, 15 min, Allianz S.E., Director: Verena Schönauer, H. Schütt, J. Skarvan
Silver Dolphin 2012 Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards
2011 Over the Islands of Africa – Madagascar, 45min., SWR/ARTE, Director: Christian Schidlowski, Verena Schönauer Bronze Columbus 2012
filmography film editor (selection)
2019 Sea Of Shadows, 107 min., Director: Richard Ladkani, Edited by Verena Schönauer & Georg Fischer, Executive Producer: Leonardo DiCaprio
Sundance Film Festival 2019 „Audience Award World Cinema Documentary“
2016 The Ivory Game,117min., Netflix, Director: Richard Ladkani, Kief Davidson
Academy Awards 2017, shortlisted for „Best Documentatry Feature“
Telluride 2016 (Official Selection)
TIFF Toronto International Film Festival 2016 (Official Selection)
Cinema for Peace International Green Award 2017
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 2017: Grand Teton Award, Best Theatrical Program, Best Writing, Nomination for Best Editing,
Hollywood Professional Association: Nomination for Outstanding Editing,
and others
2014 Cities by the Sea: Marseille, St. Petersburg, Melbourne, Hong Kong4x45min., SWR/ARTE
Amazon Prime,30sek., TV Commercial
2013 Scrap in the Body, 90min., MDR/ARTE, Director: Dorina Herbst
2011 Vatican – The hidden World, 90min., BR/BBC/ France2/ National Geographic, Director: Richard Ladkani
Bavarian Televison Award 2011
2010 Terra X – The Return of the Pharao, 45min., ZDF
2009 Scientists und Attack – Genetic Engeneering in the Magnetic Field of Money90min., BR Feature Documentary, Director: Bertram Verhaag
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2009
International Film Festival Oxford (OX DOX), and others
2006 Gold of the Himalajas, 43min. - SWR/ARTE, Director: Thomas Wartmann
Film Festival della Lessinia 2007: Honorable Mention
Festival International Du Film D’Autrans 2007: Prix Du Film Vie des Hommes
Vancouver Int. Mountain Festival 2008: Best Film on Mountain Culture, and others
2005 Leonard Bernstein - A Total Embrace, 50min. – BR, Director: Nina Bernstein Simmons, Mark Kaczmarczyk
Filmfestival Montreal 2006
2004 Slippin‘ - Ten Years with the Bloods Gangs in Los Angeles,90min., Director: Joachim Schroeder, Tommy Sowards
Tribeca Film Festival 2005, u.a.
Filmfest Bar/Montenegro Winner in Category Best Director, Best Film
2001 Mission Aircraft Carrier –
Life on the USS Roosevelt in Afghanistan War, 38min. - Pro7
Director: Jens Niehuss
Bavarian Television Award 2002